About the treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons

July 7, 2017

On 7 July 2017, the United Nations adopted a landmark agreement to ban nuclear weapons, known officially as the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Here we answer some frequently asked questions about how the treaty will operate.

The treaty prohibits nations from developing, testing, producing, manufacturing, transferring, possessing, stockpiling, using or threatening to use nuclear weapons. It also prohibits them from assisting, encouraging or inducing anyone to engage in any of those activities. In addition, nations must not allow nuclear weapons to be stationed or deployed on their territory.

Fifty nations must sign andratify the treaty before it can enter into legal force. Signing is a relatively simple act performed by the executive branch of a government. Ratifying typically involves a legislative process. Once the treaty has entered force, further nations can join it at any stage.

Yes. A nation that possesses nuclear weapons can join the treaty, so long as it agrees to remove them from operational status immediately and destroy them in accordance with a legally binding, time-bound plan. It is also required to eliminate its entire nuclear weapon programme, which includes nuclear materials, delivery systems and related facilities.

Yes. Nothing in the treaty prevents a nation from being in a military alliance with a nuclear-armed nation, so long as its participation in that alliance in no way involves giving support to nuclear weapons.

Yes. Nations must provide adequate assistance to all victims of the use and testing of nuclear weapons, including medical care, rehabilitation and psychological support. They must also provide for their social and economic inclusion.

The preamble acknowledges the harm suffered as a result of the use and testing of nuclear weapons, including the disproportionate impact of nuclear weapon activities on indigenous peoples. It also recognizes the disproportionate impacts on women and girls.

Yes. Nations must take measures towards the remediation of environments contaminated as a result of activities related to the use and testing of nuclear weapons. The preamble recognizes the grave implications that nuclear weapons pose for the environment.

One hundred and twenty-two (122) nations – almost two-thirds of the total UN membership – voted in favour of adoption of the treaty on 7 July 2017. Only the Netherlands voted against and only Singapore abstained from voting. Other nations did not participate. The supportive nations were:

Ai Weiwei
Artist and activist

“If Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr were alive today, they would be part of ICAN.”

Martin Sheen
Actor and activist

“I salute ICAN for working with such commitment and creativity.”

Ban Ki-moon
Former UN chief

“We can do it together. With your help, our voice will be made still stronger. Imagine peace.”

Yoko Ono
Artist

“Governments say a nuclear weapons ban is unlikely. Don’t believe it. They said the same about a mine ban treaty.”

Jody Williams
Nobel laureate

“With your support, we can take ICAN its full distance – all the way to zero nuclear weapons.”

Desmond Tutu
Nobel laureate

“Because I cannot tolerate these appalling weapons, I whole-heartedly support ICAN.”

Herbie Hancock
Jazz musician

“I can imagine a world without nuclear weapons, and I support ICAN.”

Dalai Lama
Nobel laureate

The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) is a coalition of non-governmental organizations in one hundred countries promoting adherence to and implementation of the United Nations nuclear weapon ban treaty. This landmark global agreement was adopted in New York on 7 July 2017.